A peace settlement for war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina has been brokered in the United States.

US President Bill Clinton announced the deal after 21 days of seemingly deadlocked negotiation at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

The plan, known as the Dayton Accord, has been agreed between the Bosnian, Serb and Croat leaders and will be enforced by 60,000 Nato troops, who will begin to arrive in the country during the next few days.

If a success, the settlement could end the most brutal conflict in Europe since the Second World War, which has resulted in the deaths of 200,000 people - mostly civilians - and left two million homeless.

Under the agreement Bosnia will remain a single state, but most power will be devolved to two new territories - a Muslim-Croat federation and a Bosnian-Serb republic.

A central authority controlling foreign, trade and monetary policy will operate from a united capital in Sarajevo.

This may not be a just peace, but it is more just than the continuation of war

Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic

President Clinton said the deal would allow the Bosnian people to move from the horror of war to the promise of peace.

And US Secretary of State Warren Christopher praised the accord - which is scheduled to be officially signed in December - as a "victory for all of us".

But splits have begun to appear in the fragile treaty almost as soon as it had been initialled by the leaders.

Serb delegation member Momcilo Krajisnik called it a big mistake.

"Our delegation did not accept this plan, nor did sign it, nor will it sign the maps or the plan itself," he said.

But Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic said the deal was a good beginning.

"To my people I say - this may not be a just peace, but it is more just than the continuation of war," he said.